Options abound for unplugging cable TV

Millions of Americans with wireless access at their homes are dropping cable subscriptions for streaming media consoles that pipe lower-cost entertainment services directly into their televisions.

While some set-top boxes offer greater integration with movie and music services for adults, others provide interactive video games for children or a combination of both that appeals to the entire family.

Set-top boxes attach to a television and stream media directly from the Internet, usually through a Wi-Fi connection. Instead of paying higher cable fees, users can subscribe to on-demand services such as Netflix and Hulu Plus for as little as $7.99 a month.

Here is what our research has found to be the best sellers, most of which can be found at major retailers or online stores.

Apple TV

Apple TV has the best user interface among streaming media devices and the latest model streams full 1080p HD movies, on a rental or purchase basis, from the iTunes Store. Purchased content can be stored in the cloud and transferred to a user's iPhone or iPad for offline viewing. Although the $99 device offers movies through Netflix and YouTube, it doesn't provide access to Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora or other popular streaming services.

Roku LT

Roku's entry level LT model is $50, and while it only streams in 720p, it offers an impressive lineup of content, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Amazon Instant Video, HBO GO, and others. It does not stream YouTube. The pricier models play movies at 1080p and the top of the line device, Roku 2 XS, offers the popular video game Angry Birds and an enhanced remote control.

Western Digital WD TV Live

The 1TB of file storage is a great asset for those who are still not transferring their purchases to the cloud and who want to stream media to a PC or Mac, but it comes at a price: $200. The box is also larger than most others on the market. It offers a ton of services, including Netflix, Spotify, and more, but it lacks integrated Wi-Fi. That means users have to purchase an adapter that usually runs for less than $100. It supports 1080p HD and has a clean-looking user interface.

Boxee Box

D-Link's quirky Boxee Box design is an instant conversation piece. It features a double-sided QWERTY remote control that accesses Netflix, Vudu, Pandora, and other services. The $189 device's browser supports Flash video and can play almost any kind of digital media file, but Hulu blocks Boxee Box users from accessing its online catalog. The company also features a $50 TV tuner that attaches to the Boxee Box for over-the-air broadcast television channels and other features, but most HDTVs already have built-in tuners.

Orb TV

The disc-shaped device is more of a direct connection between a television and a computer than a true set-top streaming media box. The $99 device relies on a computer to pull content such as Hulu, Netflix and other services over Wi-Fi through its Orb Caster software, but the computer must be on to access media. The user can control the device through an app on an iPhone or Android smartphone. It lacks HD playback.

Game consoles

The Nintendo Wii ($150), Sony's Playstation 3 ($250), and Microsoft's Xbox 360 ($200) provide access to Netflix without having to insert a special disc into the device through apps available on each game console's stores. Xbox is expected to launch soon a game subscription service bundled with a $99 game console, a Kinect, 4GB hard-drive and a two-year subscription to Xbox Live.

Blu-ray players

Smart Blu-ray devices, usually less than $200, not only play disc-based media, but they also stream content from the Internet directly to a television without needing an extra set-top box. Blu-ray players on LG's Smart TV, Panasonic's Viera Cast, Samsung's Smart Hub, and Sony's Bravia Internet Video platforms all play Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, and Pandora. Skype is only offered on the Viera Cast.

Smart TVs

LG soon plans to launch an Internet-enabled television operating solely on Google'splatform with access to streaming services. Google TV launched in 2010 and is supported through Logitech and Sony devices. However, most flat-screen manufacturers, including Toshiba, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio have models integrated with Wi-Fi or the ability to connect to the Internet through an adaptor that streams video and music through apps. TVs equipped with these features eliminate the need for separate set-top boxes.